October 7, 1954

Dr. Philip B. Armstrong
Marine Biological Laboratory
766 Irving Avenue

Syracuse 10, N.Y.

Dear Dr. Armstrong:
I am happy to reply to your letter 6fcReptember 29,
The answers to items 1-4 are already Indicated.

For 5 and 6, I mst reply that my work at the MBL last sumer was
exclusively in the library, largely in connection with a prospective
book in my specialty, the genetics of microorganisms. I had a subsidy
from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Poundation, through the Research
Committee of the Graduate School, but this subsidy is ordinarily used
in support of a graduate student for course work and summer research,

While it would be feasible, and for some aspects advantageous, to
transplant my laboratory research to Woods Hole during some summers, the
chiefaadvantages of the MBL are not the laboratory and library facilities
but the opportunity, so ungme these days, of unhurried discourse agth
colleagues in related, and even distant fields. These contaats ought to
be preserved; there are any number of special laboratories throughout the
country to get a job of research done, and it is doubtful whether there
is any longer a remarkable emphasis or interest in the marine biological
research for which Woods Hole is particularly suited. But the locale, by
providing such excellent teaching material to begin with, and the lab.
facilities are the means of tying togther the unique scientific community.
I would say, however, that the community was the most important asset.

Yours sincerely,

Joshua Lederberg
Professor of Genetics